Device for marking locations of structural elements

ABSTRACT

A device for marking wall panel stud locations on a pair of tapes to be later transferred to plate members forming part of a wall panel comprising a table having means for guiding the tapes endwise under a stationary templet, the latter having marker guide slots spaced along the path of the tapes at different distances depending upon the dimensions of different stud assemblies or other components of the wall panel. The tapes are advanced different amounts in accordance with different dimensions given on an architectural drawing. Combinations of lights are lit by closing appropriate switches to indicate the appropriate marker slots to be used for different stud assemblies, etc.. Movable templets are provided at opposite ends of the stationary templet and are adjustable predetermined amounts relative to the stationary templet to enable marking of door and window jambs, etc., in accordance with the dimensions of windows and doors to be installed.

United States atent 1 1 Frydenherg Sept. 11, 1973 DEVICE FOR MARKING LOCATIONS OF STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS [75] Inventor: Donald V. Frydenberg, Arlington,

{2i} Appl. No.: 139,732

{52] US. Cl. 33/76 R, 33/127 [51] Int. Cl B43l 13/02 [58] Field of Search 33/76 R, 19 A, 174 B 33/174 G, 1 AA Primary ExaminerLouis R. Prince Assistant ExaminerDennis A. Dearing Attorney-Fred N. Schwend [57] ABSTRACT A device for marking wall panel stud locations on a pair of tapes to be later transferred to plate members forming part of a wall panel comprising a table having means for guiding the tapes endwise under a stationary templet, the latter having marker guide slots spaced along the path of the tapes at different distances depending upon the dimensions of different stud assemblies or other components of the wall panel. The tapes are advanced different amounts in accordance with different dimensions given on an architectural drawing. Combinations of lights are lit by closing appropriate I 5 1 References Cited switches to indicate the appropriate marker slots to be UNITED STATES PATENTS used for different stud assemblies, etc.. Movable templets are provided at opposite ends of the stationary Simon 23/76 R templet and are adjustable predetermined amounts rel- 3373'495 3/1968 igi ative to the stationary templet to enable marking of i g door and window jambs, etc., in accordance with the dimensions of windows and doors to be installed.

3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures /5 f 'iifi i eta-r e M r w i 2 29 25 i 2.2

z I 23 24 I 7y"\ \\/)\I'\ I") o /\O) SHEEI 2 [IF 5 PATENTEI] SEN I I875 PATENIEU SEN I 1973 saw a or 5' BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the fabrication of wall panel sections for buildings, mobile homes or the like and has particular reference to means for marking the locations of different studs, stud assemblies and other structural members which make up such wall panels.

2. Description of the Prior Art Building wall panels and other similar structural assemblies are generally either fabricated on the building site or are prefabricated at a mill or other processing plant and then transported to the building sites. Such panels may be fabricated as whole units or in modular units which are subsequently attached together to form the framework of the building. In either case each wall panel or modular unit thereof is usually constructed by marking off on top and bottom plate members the locations of different studs, stud assemblies or other elements which make up the wall panel. Such locations are determined by reference to an architectural drawing which, according to general practice, gives the di mension from the outer edge of an outside structural member to the center of an adjacent window, door, interior wall, etc., and the center-to-center distances between other windows, doors, walls, etc.

Generally, heretofore, stud locations were laid out by using a tape measure to measure from one end of a plate member itself when on a building site. When a number of similar panels are to be made up, as when prefabricating wall panels at wood mills, or the like, long tables are usually used on which the stud locations are laid out by tape measure and then transferred to the plate members when the latter are placed on the tables. In either case, the workmen must determine from experience the particular stud assemblies to be used at different corner locations, wall junctures, window and door openings, etc., by interpreting the drawing and must appropriately mark the plate members accord- The templet device is adjustable in part to facilitate marking of frame opening studs or jambs for different size windows, doors or the like.

The above tapes may be readily stored in compact, rolled-up form and may be used over again many times for marking off duplicate wall panels without having to recompute and remeasure the locations of the various studs and stud assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front view of a stud location marking device embodying a preferred form of the present inven tion.

FIG. 2 illustrates a portion of an architects drawing.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view illustrating an example of different stud assemblies of a wall panel.

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating particularly the templet device and is taken in the direction of the arrows 4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 illustrating the means of adjust- 7 circuitry for the tape drive.

ingly. For example, a corner post assembly may comprise three studs nailed together, a wall juncture post may comprise a'T section of three studs, and a door jamb post may comprise two studs nailed together and spaced an appropriate distance from the center line dimension given in the architect's drawing.

Although such methods of layout and construction are generally satisfactory, they are time consuming and often confusing, particularly to unskilled workmen and are therefore subject to error.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the locations of the various stud assemblies and special studs for a wall panel or a modular unit thereof are marked off on a pair of plastic tapes and are subsequently transferred to the plate members which ultimately form such wall panel. The tapes are advanced past a templet device to different center line or other reference positions determined from an architectural drawing and there they are marked for different stud locations according to the particular type of assembly to be built up at such center line locations. This marking is facilitated by the templet which indicates, for different types of stud assemblies, the exact positions of stud assemblies relative to the center line or other reference location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to'FIGS. 1,4, and 5 to 8 in particular, the marking device comprises a table, generally indicated at 11, including supporting legs 12 and a vertical back panel 13 on which an architects drawing indicated by dot dash lines 14 may be held by suitable clips 15. The table top 16 has two parallel grooves 17 and 18 formed in the upper surface thereof and extending along its length to guide a pair of thin transparent tapes 20 and 21 of plastic, such as is commercially available under the trademark Mylar. I

The tapes are supplied from a pair of coaxially arranged supply reels, one of which is shown at 22, rotatably supported by a bracket 23 mounted on the tables. Eachtape is guided under a respective guide roller, i.e., 24, along its respective guide slot and under a-transparent templet 25 of plastic or the like attached by screws 26 to the table top.

Means are provided for drawing the tape isochronously with each other onto a pair of coaxially arranged tape-up reels, one of which is shown at 27, the latter being rotatably supported independently of each other by a bracket 28 secured to the table top. Drive rollers, one of which is shown at 30, are carried by a shaft 31 rotatably supported by the bracket 28. The shaft also carries a gear 32 driven by a stepper motor 33 through a drive gear pinion 34. A hand wheel 29 is also attached to the shaft 31 to enable manual feeding of the tapes. The tapes are held in frictional engagement with knurled peripheries of respective ones of the feed rollers, i.e. 30, by pressure rollers 35 and 36 also rotatably supported by the bracket 28. Rubber rings 37 are mounted in circumferential grooves formed in the rollers 35 and 36 for yieldably forcing the tapes into intimate contact with the feed rollers to prevent slippage.

Endless elastic belts 38 are wrapped around respective sets of pulleys, Le, 40 and 41, secured respectively to the reels 27 and their associated pulleys 41 to wind the tapes on such reels. Such belts are arranged to slip as the diameters of the rolls of tape on the reels 27 increase.

The templet 25 has a series of marker slots 42 located directly over the guideway slots for the tapes 20 and 21. Such marker slots provide marker guide surfaces and are aligned in pairs over the two guide ways for the tapes. One such pair, i.e., 42a and 42b, is aligned along a center or reference line 431 of the templet. The slots 42a and 42b thus form a reference point for measuring locations along the tape. Other pairs of marker slots are spaced symmetrically about the center slots to mark off stud locations for various types of stud assemblies as will appear presently.

Electric lamps 43 are mounted in sockets 44 secured to the undersurface of the table top 16 and extend into holes formed in such table tops in alignment with respective ones of the pairs of marker slots. The lamps (see also FIG. 10) are arranged to be lit either singly or in groups of twos or otherwise by closing different ones of a series of switches 44. The latter are selectively manually closed and are operated by push buttons 45 (FlG. 9) mounted on a control panel 46 supported from the back wall 13. The switches each, when closed, preferably remains closed until released by depression of another push button to close its respective switch. Such construction is well known. One form, for exampie, is shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,213,845 issued to B.J. Mastney et al.

The lamps 43, when lit, indicate the particular aligned slots 42 to be used in guiding a suitable marker (not shown) to mark on the tape appropriate stud locatrons.

Movable transparent templets 47 and 48 are located at opposite ends of the templet 25. Such templets are slideable over the table top 16 and are attached at their forward ends to respective scale bars and 51 through slots 52 formed in the table top. The scale bars are slideably supported for endwise movement on a bearing plate 53 spaced from the under surface from the table top 16 by spacer bars 54. The scale bars 50 and 51 have rack gear teeth 55 which mesh with diametrically opposite sides of a pinion 56. The latter is attachedto a shaft 57journaled in bearings formed in the table top 16 and in bearing plate 53 and has bevel gear 58 thereon which meshes with a second bevel gear 60 carried by a shaft 61 journaled in a bearing carried by a bracket 62. The shaft 61 is attached to a hand wheel 63. Accordingly, rotation of the hand wheel causes the pinion 56 to advance the scale bars equally in opposite directions, depending upon the direction of rotation of the hand wheel.

The scale bars 50 and 51 have linear scales 64 and 65, respectively, formed thereon and visible through openings 66 in the table top and through triangular openings 67 formed in index sliders 68 and 70 (FIGS. 4 and 7). Such index sliders are similar in construction, each having an index point or tip 71 to indicate the position of the slider along a respective linear add-on scale 72. A clamp screw 73 extends through the body of each slider and through a respective slot 74 in the table top 16 and is threadably secured to a nut 75 located below the table top. Thus, the slider may be adjusted to different positions along its scale 72 and thereafter the scale bars 50 and 51 and their templets 47 and 48., respectively, may be adjusted relative to the triangular sight opening in the slider.

The scales 72, 72a and 64 are marked to represent inches of spacing between inner pairs of slots 79 formed in the templets 47 and 438 as will now appear. Normally, the templets 47 and 48 are employed to mark the stud locations for window and door jambs, on opposite sides of a center line for such windows and doors, as located in accordance with the architectural drawing. The scales 72 and 72a are provided to enable proper preadjustment of the sliders 68 and 76 to include an add-on dimension whereby the door and window jamb studs will be spaced a desired amount beyond the nominal door or window dimension to provide clearance, such add-on amount depending, for example, on the particular type of window or door to be installed.

The scales 64 indicate, on reference to a respective one of the sliders 68 and 70, the nominal width of the door or window to be installed. Thus, with a slider set as 0, the associated scale 64 will indicate distance between marker slots 79.

Three counters 75, 76, and 77 (FIG. 1, 9 and 11) having feet and inches decade indicators are mounted on the control panel 46 to measure the distance between different center line locations on the tapes 20 and 21 as the latter are drawn under the templet 25. Such counters are preferably electronic in nature and are commercially available. Manually operable reset switches 78 are provided to reset respective ones of the counters to zero at any time. Also provided are settable registers 120, one for each of the counters 75, 76 and 77. Such registers are selected by a switch 89 and a selected register is present by a series of thumb wheel switches 80 upon closing a normally open switch 86. The switch 86 also sets a flip-flop 121 to enable an And gate 122 to pass pulses from a pulse generator 123 to the stepper motor 33 and to the counters whereby the stepper motor will advance the tapes 20 and 21 amounts determined by presetting of the thumbwheel switches 80.

When the count in one of the counters reaches the count in the selected register a comparator circuit, i.e., 123 is energized to reset that register through a respective reset circuit 125. This resets the flip-flop 121 to stop the motor 33.

The indexing circuitry for controlling the stepper motor is not considered a part of the present invention.

During advancement of the tapes, the counters 75, 76 and 77 are indexed to indicate the extent of advancement of the tapes.

FIG. 2 illustrates an architects drawing, wherein it will be noted that dimensions are given from an outside end of a wall to the centers of various windows and intermediate walls. Normally three types of dimensions are given, one indicating the distances between an outside wall and the center of the nearest window, as well as the distances between the centers of other windows and doors. Another type gives the distances between the end of an outside wall and the center of the nearest intermediate wall, as well as the distances between the centers of other walls. The third type of dimension gives the overall length of the wall panel.

In operating the device, the operator places the drawing, i.e., 14, (FIG. ll) containing the dimensions of a particular wall panel to be built on the back board 13 and resets the counters 75, 76 and 77. Considering the wall panel to extend from the lefthand end of the building, he marks the location of the lefthand end of the wall panel by running a marker crayon or the like along the center marker slots 42a and 42b designating the lefthand ends of the two plate members. Now, since a corner post assembly of three studs is to be built up at the left end of the panel, as shown at 85 in FIG. 3, he closes a switch 44a, FIG. 10, designated Left Corner. Accordingly, following the wiring diagram it will be noted that the lamps 43a and 43c will be lit which indicate, in FIG. 4, that the pairs of marker slots 42a42b and 42c-42d should be used to mark the outer ends of the assembly of three studs forming the corner assembly 85.

Thereafter, since the first dimension of 5 feet 6 inches is for a window opening, the selector switch is set to its righthand position designated OPENINGS thereby selecting the predetermined counter device into which window locations are to be set. Thereafter, the operator sets the dimension 5 feet 6 inches in the thumb switches 80 and depresses a drive button 86, causing the stepper motor 33 to advance both tapes precisely 5 feet 6 inches, at which time, according to the drawing in FIG. 2, the center for the window 87 will be located below the center line marker slots 42a and 42b. The operator then adjusts the index slider 70 to represent an appropriate clearance between the window jamb studs and the particular type of window to be used. The wheel 63 is then rotated to set the scale 65 on scale bar 51 to indicate, within the triangular opening 67 of the slider 70, the nominal width of the particular window to be installed at this point. The locations for the window jamb stud assemblies are then marked by running the marker along the various inner and outer slots 7% and 88 in the templet members 47 and 48. At this time all three counters 75, 76, and 77 will register the distance 5 feet 6 inches.

The location for the wall juncture stud assembly,i.e., 89 (FIG. 3) to which the intermediate wall 90 is to be attached is layed off next on both tapes. For this purpose, the counter 77 is reset, the selector switch 89 is set to the position designated INTERSECTING WALLS, and the thumbwheel switches 80 are set to indicate the distance to such wall center, i.e., feet 9 inches.

The button 86 is again pressed, causing the motor 33 to advance the tapes until they read this location. The proper distance, i.e., 10 feet 9 inches, from the lefthand end of the wall panel will now be indicated by the counters 75 and 76.

At this point, the T assembly of studs, as shown at 89 is to be marked. It will be noted that the stud 89a for such wall juncture is located along the bottom side of the panel when viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. Accordingly, an appropriate switch 44b, designated 2 4 T Down is closed lighting lamps 43d, 43e and 43f. Lamps 43d and 43a indicate the appropriate marker slots 42 for marking the outer edge locations for the T assembly. The lamp 43f illuminates a symbol D directly thereabove, indicating that the stud 890 should be on the lower side of the wall panel, as viewed in FIG. 3. A suitable symbol (not shown) designating this location is preferably marked on the tapes. The foregoing procedure is followed in marking the stud assembly locations for the remaining walls and openings.

Other switches 44, when closed, cause other combinations of lights to designate appropriate marker slots to use in marking the locations of other stud assemblies or studs. For example, the switch 443, designated 16 inchladder", when closed, illuminates lamps 43j and 43k designating the outer pairs of marker slots 42g and 42h, respectively, representing the outer edges of a 16 inch ladder stud assembly. Again, switch 44h designated 2X4 T UP, when closed, illuminates lamps 43d, 432 and 43h to indicate the markings for a .T stud assembly similar to that shown at 92 in FIG. 3. The lamp 43h illuminates a symbol U, indicating that upper location of the central stud 92a.

The switch 44j, when closed, illuminates lamps 43a and 43i designating the marker slots for locating a single stud to be located at the righthand end of a plate member of a modular unit, as exemplified at 93 in FIG. 3. Such stud is intended to be suitably attached to the Iefthand stud 94 of another modular unit to build up a complete wall panel. The switch 44k would designate the marker slots for locating such stud 94.

Other switches 44, their lights and associated slots 42, are believed to be self explanatory on reference to FIGS. 4 and 10.

It will be noted that the upper tape 20 is intended to be subsequently used to mark off stud locations on the upper plate member of a wall panel or modular unit thereof and the lower tape 21 is intended to be used to mark off stud locations on the lower plate member. Since certain stud assemblies may have different coniigurations at their upper ends than at their lower ends, the marking may not be the same for both plate members.

In order to selectively manuallyadvance the tapes, in the event of power failure or non-availability of electrical power, the hand wheel 29, FIG. 1 attached to the tape feed shaft 31 is used to advance the tapes and a set of three mechanically operated counters, one of which is shown at 98 (FIG. 8), are arranged to be driven by the gear 32 to measure the advancement of the tapes. The counters register and display distances advanced by the tapes in a manner similar to'the counters 75, 76 and 77 and are independently resettable. In this case, the operator advances the tapes until the desired distance is registered on an appropriate one of the counters. The counters are reset in the same manner as described heretofore. Such counters are commercially available. For example, counters satisfactory for this purpose are obtainable from the Rolatape Corporation of Santa Monica, Calif.

In order to aid the workmen in understanding the arrangement of stud locations in accordance with certain of the illuminated lamps, grooves 100 (FIGS. 4 and 6) are formed on the under side of the templet and connect with certain of the lamps.

Such grooves are roughened or coated with a reflective material which cause the same to glow.

I, claim:

1. A device for marking the locations of structural elements for a wall panel on an elongate tape which comprises I a templet,

means for causing relative movement between said tape and said templet along the length of said tape by different amounts,

said templet having a plurality of marker guiding surfaces extending across said tape,

said surfaces being spaced along the length of said tape and being spaced apart distances equal to the dimensions of different structural elements measured in the direction of the length of said tape;

electrically energized indicator devices located adjacent respective ones of said surfaces whereby to indicate those of said surfaces to be used in marking off the locations of different structural elements,

normally open electric circuits for said indicator devices, and

selectively closable switching devices for completing different combinations of said circuits,

each of said switching devices being effective when closed to complete a respective combination of said circuits.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said templet is transparent and said indicator devices comprise electric lamps located below said templet.

3. A device according to claim 2 comprising light conducting grooves in said templet and extending between certain of said lamps whereby to indicate the locations of certain of said structural elements.

1: a: a: a 

1. A device for marking the locations of structural elements for a wall panel on an elongate tape which comprises a templet, means for causing relative movement between said tape and said templet along the length of said tape by different amounts, said templet having a plurality of marker guiding surfaces extending across said tape, said surfaces being spaced along the length of said tape and being spaced apart distances equal to the dimensions of different structural elements measured in the direction of the length of said tape; electrically energized indicator devices located adjacent respective ones of said surfaces whereby to indicate those of said surfaces to be used in marking off the locations of different structural elements, normally open electric circuits for said indicator devices, and selectively closable switching devices for completing different combinations of said circuits, each of said switching devices being effective when closed to complete a respective combination of said circuits.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said templet is transparent and said indicator devices comprise electric lamps located below said templet.
 3. A device according to claim 2 comprising light conducting grooves in said templet and extending between certain of said lamps whereby to indicate the locations of certain of said structural elements. 